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-   -   Swine Flu Zombies-Twitter Panic! (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=178747)

Graceful May 14th, 2009 7:51 AM

Swine Flu Zombies-Twitter Panic!
 
Quote:

Posted On Pop Watch
Zombie swine flu hoax story: Does Twitter have panic-creating potential?

May 1, 2009, 09:32 AM | by Tanner Stransky
Categories: Rumor Control, Twitter

http://popwatch.ew.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/05/01/zombiesshaunofdead_l.jpgThis hilarious but totally bogus story -- about a mutant zombie strain of the swine flu and designed to look like a legit BBC News story -- is making quite the splash on Twitter. The link to the story has been retweeted (in other words, shared on user's Twitter feeds), at last check, 720 times, according to Tweetmeme, a website designed to aggregate which links are getting the most play on Twitter at any given moment. Even more interesting is that the story -- which is undoubtedly a complete fake as it makes claims like a Netherlands boy dying and then rising from the dead and lunging at his mother, among other crazy things -- is listed on Tweetmeme's homepage with this very misleading and official-looking moniker: BBC NEWS | Europe | EU quarantines London in swine flu panic. And it's right alongside actually legit BBC News stories, like this: BBC News | Health | What scientists know about swine flu, which is also being retweeted but not nearly as much. Shouldn't someone at Tweetmeme catch the potential panic such a legit-but-bogus link could incite?
If you look at what the Twitter community is saying when posting the fake link, it's a mixed bag. Everything from tongue-in-cheek takes -- "OMG! Swine flu virus has mutation...and it's now creating zombies!" says user redrisker -- to the dismissive: "Great example about trust and checking sources," Tweeted user MeManders.
Another interesting dimension to this story is the URL that's used for the hoax. Just look at it: http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm. Clearly, you're not being directed to the BBC News website. But it's important to remember that, on Twitter at least, a good portion of the URLs posted are turned into "short links," which save space. So users rarely look at what they're clicking on anymore -- until they get to the destination. Checking the URL, and whether it redirected to a legit website, may or may not happen.
In this case, thankfully, most users seem to get the fact that the story is a joke, but we do seem to have the ideal forum for a potential War of the Worlds-like event. And how could this affect entertainment news? (For instance, could the Jaleel White suicide rumor from a few years back have gone nuts on Twitter? Hehe.) Does this silly little, yet entertaining, communication application have the potential to spread panic? I surely think so, especially since it's so unpoliced. But what say you, PopWatchers?

So what do you think?????

Legobricks May 14th, 2009 12:38 PM

I think this is silly. Not this thread, just the... um, Tweet? It won't make headlines and it won't create a remotely serious ruckus.

♣Gawain♣ May 14th, 2009 5:48 PM

Too silly to make it to frontpage actually. I don't see the point of people joking themselves when there's a pandemic going on.

Graceful May 15th, 2009 6:21 AM

Most people at school,whenever you sneeze they yell-"oMG! She/He's got Swine flu! Run for it!"

It's just stupid! were in a bad situation and people just think its a complete joke!

JeTz May 15th, 2009 2:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graceful (Post 4643571)
Most people at school,whenever you sneeze they yell-"oMG! She/He's got Swine flu! Run for it!"

It's just stupid! were in a bad situation and people just think its a complete joke!

Lulz agree. They are non-enough-mature yet

Mr. Epic May 15th, 2009 3:43 PM

A wild fantasy that I'd wish to come true. Then this shotgun could finally be made good use.

Shem May 15th, 2009 5:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychometric. (Post 4644592)
A wild fantasy that I'd wish to come true. Then this shotgun could finally be made good use.

Wow, I didn't think there was anybody else who shared my dream.



Personally I think this is hilarious, especially since some people belive it and are gunna run to the friends and go "ZOMG zombies r real doood!!!! Quick get to walmart and buy all the ammo/canned foods!" and make a moron out of himself...

El Nino May 15th, 2009 5:10 PM

Well in some cases I find it racist, this swine flu just put Mexicans in the bottom of the US racist chart.

It really sucks because of how stupid people can react. But there's always a double standard for everything. Like I heard in the news the other day that this lady was gonna sue a Mexican guy for giving her the swine flu. If anyone who has gotten the swine flu, then they got it from a Mexican. If a Mexican got the swine flu then they got it from pigs.

BHwolfgang May 15th, 2009 5:12 PM

I actually find that hilarious. XD I wonder where the image came from?

It's sad to say this, but I can't read the post at all. There were too many links in it.

Graceful May 16th, 2009 7:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Nino (Post 4644786)
Well in some cases I find it racist, this swine flu just put Mexicans in the bottom of the US racist chart.

It really sucks because of how stupid people can react. But there's always a double standard for everything. Like I heard in the news the other day that this lady was gonna sue a Mexican guy for giving her the swine flu. If anyone who has gotten the swine flu, then they got it from a Mexican. If a Mexican got the swine flu then they got it from pigs.

Most people get it if they go to Mexico(That destination is SO off my holiday list) and catch it,then when they come back it spreads person to person....why blame mexico? They've only got infectioned Pigs and a few people with 'Stay back we've got swine flu' on thier doors,no need to blame the country!

http://www.misionesparaguay.com/images/large_flag_of_mexico.gif

El Nino May 16th, 2009 8:39 AM

I really can't tell if your being sarcastic or not bro. Seriously, ease up on the racism.

Well if you care to have read up on the subject you'd find out that the pigs were from Canada, not Mexico. It spread in Mexico because they have less than reputable health care so it spread faster and it killed people. Whereas here in the US, only underprivileged people and babies died from it. You guys swear like its cancer and you can't cure it. Some people are just ignorant and like to point and blame.

Mitchman May 16th, 2009 8:57 AM

The only swine flu zombies I see are the mindless twits who believe the media.

Alexithymia~ May 16th, 2009 9:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todoroki Is (Post 4646488)
The only swine flu zombies I see are the mindless twits who believe the media.

Well said.

I find it hard to believe that any logical person would actually believe this... I mean seriously, zombies?

Graceful May 16th, 2009 9:06 AM

I got an Idea! All blame the BBC!

Legobricks May 16th, 2009 9:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graceful (Post 4646512)
I got an Idea! All blame the BBC!

Hold up. American media should meet the axe first.

Graceful May 16th, 2009 9:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by オレンジ (Post 4646535)
Hold up. American media should meet the axe first.

Ok Ok,America media,then canada for giving mexico pigs with the swine flu,then the bbc for making being dumb and then whoever created the website!
EDIT:No offence canadians!

El Nino May 16th, 2009 10:55 AM

Well that's what the ignorant Americans get for not making themselves self aware of things and believe anything there told. Seriously, its pretty sad


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